Pressing for the Prize

Understanding heaven, comprehending the staggering nature of the promises of rewards, is not something that happens all at once. We don't simply read a verse of Scripture and now we've got it. Much like comprehending God's love, it takes time, minutes that add up to hours of contemplation, openness on our part to receive the truth and let it soak in. Because of the culture we live in, one that is dominated by instant gratification, being motivated by heavenly rewards doesn't come naturally. And we may have heard someone say that heavenly rewards are just God's bribe to get us to do what he wants -- or a concept developed by people in power to dominate others and keep them in line. Don't let the scoffers and ill-informed keep you from embracing the Truth.

"Those who have gone to heaven, who have attained eternal life and are in the presence of God, doubtless know very well that it is no mere bribe, but the very consummation of their earthly discipleship, but we who have not yet attained it cannot know this in the same way. In fact, we cannot even begin to know it at all except by reading the Scripture, and continuing to obey what the Spirit shows us, and finding the first reward of the sweetness we receive from our obedience. That inkling of reward will increase our desire for the ultimate reward. Much like learning any skill -- a foreign language, playing a musical instrument, taking photographs -- we seek to become good at it in hopes of receiving the reward of enjoying literature in its original language, or playing the music that is in our hearts, or capturing the beauty we see on film. And every once in a while it happens we experience what it will be like when we become proficient, and that fleeting experience of what we seek; that inkling of our reward increases our desire and motivates us to continue working on grammar, and musical scales, and lighting techniques.

"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things." Philippians 3:14-15

Reflection #8 on C.S. Lewis, Weight of Glory 

>